The Denver Broncos confirmed Wednesday that the trade they had arranged to acquire linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers will not be completed. In a brief social‑media post, the Broncos said, “The proposed trade involving linebacker Daiyan Henley will not be finalized. We have great respect for Daiyan as a player and person, and we wish him all the best moving forward.”
Why the deal fell through
While the Broncos did not provide a detailed explanation, the trade was listed as “pending a physical” when it was announced before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Henley underwent a physical at the Broncos’ facility on Wednesday, and the team’s silence suggests the results may have raised concerns.
Under the terms of the agreement, Denver would have sent a 2027 fourth‑round pick and a 2028 fifth‑round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for the veteran linebacker.
Impact on both clubs
Henley is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he has become a key contributor on the Chargers’ defense, recording 51 tackles, the team high, through eight games and posting back‑to‑back 100‑tackle seasons.
For the Broncos, the trade would have bolstered an already strong defense that currently leads the AFC West at 7‑2. Henley would have joined middle linebacker Alex Singleton, who leads the league with 107 tackles through nine games.
Other deadline drama
The Henley trade is not the only deal to collapse during deadline week. The Cincinnati Bengals also called off a trade for defensive end Arnold Ebiketie after realizing it would have cost them a compensatory draft pick in 2027.
With the Broncos on a bye week, the full details of why the Henley transaction fell apart may not emerge until head coach Sean Payton returns to prepare for the Week 11 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
